Ramsey County, home of the Minnesota capital St. Paul, is a dense urban region with a population of about 552,000. Nearby counties include Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, and Washington. Notable employers in Ramsey County include Target, Best Buy, and 3M.

Historically a crossroads with extensive manufacturing facilities, Ramsey County today is heavily slanted towards the service economy. One part of the St. Paul-Minneapolis metropolitan area, the region attracts frequent newcomers, with a population growth of nearly 10% between 2010 and 2020. For businesses in need of talented job applicants, this growth increases the likelihood of a livelier job market. However, the influx of those from other areas could mean some arrive with more baggage than just their luggage.

A criminal record is a red flag in the hiring process. Conducting background checks on job applicants as a matter of due diligence allows companies to tap into the talent pool in a safer, more well-informed way. Not all applicants are entirely truthful in resumes, cover letters or even interviews, but making an informed decision about who to hire is your right as an employer.

It is important to remember that a past conviction does not always mean a risky hire when using background checks. Using the “EEOC factors” of time since the conviction and relevance to the job, you can evaluate background check reports fairly for all candidates.

How do you obtain these reports? Today, the process is easier than ever, with many reports offering instant results from public records on your applicant. 

Legal use of background checks requires compliance with Minnesota's “ban the box” law and related hiring fairness rules. Employers may not use background checks until after interviewing a candidate or before making a conditional offer. The only disqualifying convictions are those related to the job. You cannot consider arrests that didn't yield convictions. Employers must also follow federal rules for background checks established by the FCRA.

With an understanding of the legal framework in place, it's time to begin building your background check routine. Begin your search when you order the instant US OneSEARCH to better evaluate your candidates with information from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Find more information about the sources we use when you check out our US OneSEARCH coverage map.

When a background check indicates the subject has active or pending court cases, obtaining the most recent updates is an important step to take for completing your evaluation. For the most recent information about possible pending cases, drill down for further detail by ordering the county-level criminal record search next. This court-based search can provide additional important data.

Criminal background reports generated by the US OneSEARCH include data from:

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety – Felonies and misdemeanors from 1998-present

• Minnesota Judicial Branch – Felonies and misdemeanors from 2009-present

These reports can include the subject’s:

• Name

• Offense/Charge

• Sentence

• Disposition

Make the most of hiring opportunities in the St. Paul region with detailed reports from backgroundchecks.com.